Adjustable length chain &amp; bracelet

ABSTRACT

An adjustable size jewelry item formed as a loop having first and second chain segments which cooperate with respective slides to adjust the size of the loop enabling a wearer to easily adjust the size, for instance, to be a double strand choker length or a single strand longer length necklace.

[0001] This invention relates to an adjustable length chain and bracelet which is capable of allowing bracelets to adjust to appropriate sizes, and more interestingly, allowing chains to adjust from a double strand choker length to a single strand longer length.

[0002] Jewelry chains and bracelets have long enjoyed wide popularity. Jewelry manufacturers are always looking for ways to enhance the value of the jewelry they sell. In some instances, one way of enhancing jewelry is to provide multiple functions or looks for an item of jewelry which is manufactured.

[0003] Jewelry chains and bracelets are generally sold in a single length, and the user does not have the ability to easily adjust the length of either the chain or bracelet without relatively difficult manual dexterity involving somewhat complicated mechanisms to add or delete length to the chain forming the bracelet or necklace. As a consequence, bracelets and necklaces are generally sold in preset single sizes, and the ability to provide multiple functions for such jewelry items is often difficult to achieve.

[0004] An object of this invention is to provide a jewelry chain and associated locking slide mechanism allowing easy adjustment by the user of the chain when worn either as a necklace or bracelet.

[0005] Another object is to provide a jewelry item in which the adjustment mechanism is configured to be an attractive item of jewelry and yet be easily and safely manipulated to achieve different chain lengths to achieve different functions.

[0006] Still another object of this invention is to provide such a chain which can serve as a necklace and be worn either as a double strand choker or a single strand longer length yet be able to achieve either of such orientations simply and easily by the user.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the principles of this invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing an adjustable size jewelry loop which is formed of jewelry chain, the loop comprising at least two slides through which the jewelry chain passes to slide and stop along the jewelry chain. The loop is formed of at least two chain segments with each segment having a free end, the first of the chain segments passing through the first of the slides and being connected to the second of the two slides, while the second of the two chain segments passes through the second of the slides and is connected to the first of the slides. The adjustable slide jewelry item is adjusted by either pulling the chain segments apart which enlarges the loop or pulling the slides away from each other which shortens the loop. The size of the shortened loop is approximately that so as to form a double choker when the adjustable loop is made as small as it can be by moving the two slides away from each other.

[0009] In accordance with another feature of this invention, the slides are formed of an attractive round jewelry finding through which the chains slide, with the round finding forming a closed ball or round like structure in which a friction member is located which allows easy sliding of the chain but holds the chain in place in the slide when pulling force is no longer exerted on either the chain or the slide. Thus the chain can easily slide and stop anywhere along its length as the chain passes through the respective slides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010]FIG. 1 is a photograph of a top plan view of this invention showing the complete jewelry item.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The figure is a top view of this adjustable length jewelry item which is illustratively shown as having a loop section 10, a bottom decorative section 12 and is formed of jewelry chain 14. The jewelry chain which forms the loop 10 is actually formed of two separate jewelry chain segments, 16 and 18 in which each jewelry chain segment has a free end 20 and 22 respectively. Jewelry chain segment 16 passes through a slide 24 and has its free end 20 secured to a slide 26. Jewelry chain segment 18 passes through slide 26 and has its free end 22 secured to slide 24. Slides 24 and 26 are formed as round balls having sufficient clearance through the ball to allow the respective chain segments 16 and 18 to pass and slide therethrough. Additionally, each slide or ball 24 or 26 includes a silicon globule which bears on the chain as it slides through the respective slide. The silicon globule holds the chain anytime there is no pulling force on the chain so that the chain can assume any desired length in accordance with the user's wishes.

[0012] In accordance with the teachings of this invention, the loop 10 can be made larger by pulling jewelry segments 16 and 18 away from each other at about the location of slides 24 and 26 while the loop 10 can be made smaller by pulling slides 24 and 26 away from each other until they reach the bottom 28 of the loop. When slides 24 and 26 reach the bottom 28 of loop 10, the size of the loop is approximately a double strand choker length. The user can adjust the loop size 10 while wearing the item as a necklace in an easy and quick fashion so as to provide versatility to the jewelry item to be worn as a single strand loop necklace or a choker length double strand.

[0013] The item of jewelry can also be worn as a bracelet, and the size of the bracelet can be adjusted. The bracelet could be looped and could be the approximate size of a wrist, so that when slides 24 and 26 are brought to loop location 28, a double strand bracelet would be formed.

[0014] The chain could be made of silver, gold or any desirable metal or non-metallic structure and the slides 24 and 26 are preferably made in attractive round or oblong form having a hollow center and sized sufficiently to allow the chain to slide through yet frictionally bear upon silicon or some other frictional material which easily hold the chain in place as it slides through the respective slides 24 and 26. Additionally, for ornamental purposes the slide would take the form of a star or any other ornamental object so long as the globule of silicon will be resident for the chain to slide therethrough.

[0015] Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since further modifications and variations may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present application cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable size jewelry loop comprising jewelry chain formed as part of a closed loop, at least two slides through which said jewelry chain passes to side and stop along said jewelry chain, said closed loop formed of at least two chain segments with each segment having a free end, a first of said chain segments passing through a first of said slides and being connected to the second of said two slides, the second of said two chain segments passing through the second of said slides and being connected to the first of said slides, said adjustable loop being made larger by pulling each of said chain segments away from the other and being made smaller by pulling said two slides away from each other.
 2. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1, wherein each of said slides is of the same esthetic design.
 3. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1, wherein each of said slides is a round ball.
 4. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1, wherein each of said slides comprises a frictional material encapsulated within said slides allowing sufficient room for said first and second chains to move through the slides yet be frictionally maintained in position when there is no pulling force exerted on the chains or slides.
 5. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1, wherein said closed loop comprises a double chain choker length when said loop is closed and provides a single chain longer loop when said loop is larger.
 6. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1 wherein said chain is formed of gold.
 7. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1 wherein said chain is formed of silver.
 8. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1 wherein said slide is formed of gold.
 9. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 1 wherein said slide is formed of silver.
 10. An adjustable size jewelry loop according to claim 4, wherein said frictional material comprises silicon. 